Josh Marshall

Articles by
Josh

I want to flag your attention to a new study that has just been released by the Equal Justice Initiative which appears to be the most comprehensive examination to date of the history of lynchings of African-Americans in the South between 1877 and 1950, which the report correctly defines as 'terror lynchings.'

Benjamin Netanyahu's latest stunt is to claim that he's coming to America to address Congress against President Obama as a "representative of the entire Jewish people".

So now he is not only the Prime Minister of the State of Israel. He also speaks for all Jews. But it turns out Israelis think he should cancel his speech too. A new Israel Army Radio poll finds that 47% of Israelis think Netanyahu should cancel the speech and 34% think he should not.

Tori Sisson, left, and Shanté Wolfe, right, kiss after saying their marriage vows, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Sisson and Wolfe were the first couple to file their marriage license. Alabama is the 37th state to allow gays and lesbians to wed. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

We've seen the first murmurs today that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu might decide to scrap his speech to Congress - the demand or request of an increasingly broad chorus of elite opinion in the US and Israel. Early today, Reuters reported that Netanyahu's advisors were "considering amending the format" of the speech - a vague phrasing which the article suggests may range anywhere from turning the speech into a closed door, untelevised talk to just talking to AIPAC and pretending that was sort of the same thing.

There's not no entertainment value in watching Clarence Thomas erupt into a ocean of spittle in a furious dissent - especially with the ludicrous claim that this court has an "increasingly cavalier attitude toward the States." It's been going on a century since there's been a Court so solicitous of the pretended "rights" of the states. But it's hard not to conclude he's right that this Court tipped its hand today on how it plans to rule on same sex marriage.

I've been writing about the Clintons for almost two decades. No one was a bigger fan of Bill's than I was or a bigger defender. I still mainly feel the same way. But if there's one thing I do not remotely miss - and which I am not remotely looking forward to - it is the drama. The endless DRAMA.

Building off last week's 'crusades' nonsense, some Republicans are taking the distortion and hate vilification to yet another level. Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) says of President Obama, "Not only did he vilify Christianity, but he actually made a case to defend radical Islam." "What he’s really saying is ‘Well look, these are freedom fighters, just like the patriots of the Revolutionary War. And they’re no different, their service is just as honorable,’”